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PSC changes Green Energy rules
The Georgia Public Service Commission has unanimously amended Georgia Power's Green Energy Program to increase the amount of solar energy included in its Premium Green Energy product.
The ccmmission approved the program on a motion by commission Chairman Lauren "Bubba" McDonald Jr.
“The commission hopes to encourage more participation in the Green Energy Program and further advance the development of solar photovoltaic projects in Georgia by increasing the percentage of solar energy contained in the Premium Green Energy product,” said McDonald. Georgia Power's Green Energy Program is a voluntary program through which customers may purchase renewable energy from Georgia Power at a premium price in addition to the customer’s standard electric rates.
The Premium Green Energy product will now contain 50 percent solar energy and 50 percent biomass at a price of $5 per 100kWh block. Previously, energy in the premium product was composed of 10 percent solar energy and 90 percent biomass at a price of $4.50 per block.
The commission also increased the amount of solar energy Georgia Power can purchase from suppliers and approved a mechanism by which Georgia Power can continue to purchase more solar energy as the sales of the premium product increase. In addition, the commission also adopted a proposal by Commissioner Robert B. Baker Jr. that all solar projects that contribute to the program must be located in Georgia.
Renewable energy sold through this program comes from landfill gas and solar photovoltaic energy resources in Georgia. The move means that 50 percent of the energy in the Premium Green Energy product will be produced from solar resources. The commission also increased the amount of solar energy capacity to 2500 kilowatts that Georgia Power can purchase for the Green Energy Program.
More information on this program can be found under Docket Number 16573 on the commission website.
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